“In the leadup to the wedding, I kept thinking, ‘He’s going to have a bald wife, he’s not going to marry me with no hair.’

“But he said one of the main quotes of the alopecia community without even knowing it: ‘You are not your hair. I’m not marrying your hair, I fell in love with you.’”

Lauren believes the wedding industry could have more options for brides with alopecia. (Supplied)

As their wedding approached, Lauren had a new red wig made for the day.

“All of my bridesmaids were ready to shave their heads too, but I was determined that everyone was going to have hair for the wedding, including myself,” she explains.

“You build this day up in your mind your whole life, it’s such a big thing. But I got my makeup done without my hair on, and once my wig arrived, everything else was falling into place.”

“All of my bridesmaids were ready to shave their heads too.' (Supplied)

Lauren says she was lucky to have such a supportive, accepting wedding party and planners, but believes the wedding industry could have more options for brides with alopecia.

“It’s hard, as the wedding industry is all very showy and telling us to be perfect, but I think it should have more options, such as headpieces to drape across your forehead or special jewels to place on your head,” she says.

Lauren’s advice to other brides living with a form of alopecia is simple: be yourself.

“It was when I got my photos back that I could completely say, ‘Yes, I looked beautiful’.' (Supplied)

“As cliché as it sounds, be comfortable in who you are. This whole experience has given me a confidence I never thought I had in myself,” she says.

“It was when I got my photos back that I could completely say, ‘Yes, I looked beautiful’. My hair was perfect, just like any other normal bride who doesn't have alopecia.”